No results reached at oil delivery talks with Belarus
MOSCOW. Dec 31 (Interfax) - The Russian-Belarusian talks on oil delivery have not produced any results so far, a source on the Russian delegation has said.
"Presently the Russian-Belarusian talks on an agreement on the delivery of Russian oil to Belarus, including the unprecedented terms offered by the Russian side - duty-free deliveries of oil for domestic consumption, have not produced any results," the source said.
He accounted the lack of progress to "the absence of the necessary directives and powers of the Belarusian representatives."
"Unfortunately, we have to admit that a positive result at the talks on Russian oil deliveries to Belarus will not achieved by January 1," the source said.
"The Belarusian delegation has decided to return to Minsk without getting the necessary powers," he said.
"Regrettably we must note that the Belarusian side continues to stick to an absolutely groundless belief that Russia should actually continue subsidizing the Belarusian economy by continuing to deliver oil duty-free not only for domestic consumption but also for other purposes in the absence of a corresponding intergovernmental agreement," the source said.
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